Saturday, August 23, 2014

Want trees to decorate your landscape that will stay below 25 feet tall? Below are good selections to help you choose the best one for your application from those that don't reach past 25 feet tall. Planting instructions and thorough descriptions of each tall growing tree are given.

Acer barbatum Michx. (Southern Sugar Maple, Florida Maple, Sugartree)

Kingdom Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass Rosidae -

Order Sapindales -

Family Aceraceae - Maple family

Genus Acer L. - maple

Species Acer barbatum Michx. - southern sugar maple

This deciduous moderate growth tree loves sunny spots. It gets up to 20-25 feet tall and has a spread of 20-40 feet. It is more heat tolerant than acer saccharum but isn't as colorful in the fall. It will have yellow foliage with red or orange tips in the fall. Flowers are on long hairy stalks. Birds flock to it for its seeds. It makes an excellent shade tree and is a source for maple sugar. Trivia: 40 gallons of sap goes into making one gallon of syrup.

Aesculuspavia L. (Red Buckeye)

Kingdom Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass Rosidae -

Order Sapindales -

Family Hippocastanaceae - Horse-chestnut family

Genus Aesculus L. - buckeye

Species Aesculuspavia L. - red buckeye

This deciduous tree can also be a bushy shrub in some locations. It is a fast growing to its mature height of 15-25 feet. It will flower in dark red tubular flowers form April to May, and is a prime pick for those who want a splash of color. Hummingbird friendly, this tree will also attract bees. It prefers shady locations and will bloom early for first color in your garden. Keep in mind; this is a short lived tree.

Aesculus sylvatica Bartr. (Painted Buckeye, Georgia Buckeye)

Kingdom Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass Rosidae -

Order Sapindales -

Family Hippocastanaceae - Horse-chestnut family

Genus Aesculus L. - buckeye

Species Aesculus sylvatica Bartr. - painted buckeye

This pretty tree grows 6-12 feet tall and needs to be spaced at least 6-12 feet apart. It prefers a full sun environment and has average water needs. Grow this in mildly acidic soil for optimum growth potential. It has pink/pale green/yellow green flowers. BEWARE: Painted Buckeye has poisonous seeds.

This grows moderately fast and prefers sun to partial shade. It will get only 6-15 feet high with a spread of 15-20 feet. It has 5 petals and white to light pink flowers on three inch racemes in the spring. It will also have dark purple sweet berries as fruit. It is a multi trunk tree with a narrow crown.

Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern redbud)

Kingdom Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass Rosidae -

Order Fabales -

Family Fabaceae - Pea family

Genus Cercis L. - redbud

Species Cercis canadensis L. - eastern redbud

This short lived tree does well in full sun or partial shade. Also known as the "Judas tree" it is rumored to be the tree in which Judas Iscariot hung himself from. Redbud grows only 10-20 years and will reach a height of around 15 feet tall. It will flower pink or purple (rarely white) flowers from March to May. Bark from Eastern redbud has been used as an astringent and its flowers can be used in salads. A very versatile and pretty tree, albeit having short-lived beauty.

Cliftonia monophylla (Buckwheat tree)

Kingdom Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass Dilleniidae -

Order Ericales -

Family Cyrillaceae - Cyrilla family

Genus Cliftonia Banks ex Gaertn. f. - cliftonia

Species Cliftonia monophylla (Lam.) Britt. ex Sarg. - buckwheat tree

This tree gets up to 10-15 feet tall and needs a spacing of 4-8 feet across. This tree loves full sun and acidic soil. It is an evergreen, with pale pink or white fragrant flowers coming in spring time. A nice little tree to add flair in your landscape.

Cornus alternifolia L. f. (Alternateleaf Dogwood, Pagoda Dogwood)

Kingdom Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass Rosidae -

Order Cornales -

Family Cornaceae - Dogwood family

Genus Cornus L. - dogwood

Species Cornus alternifolia L. f. - alternateleaf dogwood

This slow to moderate growth tree prefers sun or partial shade. It will reach a height of 15-25 feet tall and 15-30 feet in spread. It has maroon to purple fall color and its flowers are small white blooms. It is fragrant, short lived and is disease resistant. You can propagate this via seed or cuttings.

Cornus amomum P. Mill. (Silky dogwood)

Kingdom Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass Rosidae -

Order Cornales -

Family Cornaceae - Dogwood family

Genus Cornus L. - dogwood

Species Cornus amomum P. Mill. - silky dogwood

Another great selection for bird lovers, the silky dogwood will grow from 6-15 feet. It has abundant small white flowers from May to June, and will produce blue berry-like fruit from August to September. It's this fruit that makes it a favorite for birds. It favors partial shade. Although it does flower, it is decidedly non-fragrant.

Frangula caroliniana (Walt.) Gray (Carolina Buckthorn)

Kingdom Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass Rosidae -

Order Rhamnales -

Family Rhamnaceae - Buckthorn family

Genus Frangula P. Mill. - buckthorn

Species Frangula caroliniana (Walt.) Gray - Carolina buckthorn

This tree gets up to 15-30 feet tall and needs a spacing zone of 15-20 feet. It prefers full sun to partial shade. There are pale yellow bell-shaped flowers in late spring to early summer. Carolina Buckthorn also has nice shiny deciduous foliage and good fall color. It is a have for butterflies and birds, due to the fragrant nature of the blooms. It is a moderately growing tree, and has multi-trunks. Watch for showy red berries that turn black by mid fall. BEWARE: All parts are poisonous if ingested.

Prunusamericana Marsh. (American Plum)

Kingdom Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass Rosidae -

Order Rosales -

Family Rosaceae - Rose family

Genus Prunus L. - plum

Species Prunusamericana Marsh. - American plum

This tree can get up to 12-20 feet tall and needs a spacing of 12-15 feet wide. It likes sun to partial shade and alkaline soil with average water needs. There are white flowers in mid spring and the plum fruits are edible. Some find the flavor a bit odd, but you can make jam out of the plums. It is a good food tree for birds and squirrels. American Plum can be invasive and hard to remove, so make sure you keep an eye on it and put it where you want it. BEWARE: There are some sharp edges on this plum tree.